Belleville school officials celebrate federal ADA compliance

Belleville school officials celebrate federal ADA compliance

BELLEVILLE, NJ — For decades, the Belleville Public Schools had to regretfully mark “no” on the state Comprehensive Equity Plan where it asks if all school buildings comply with the federal American with Disabilities Act. That officially changed Aug. 2 as Superintendent of Schools Richard Tomko, Board of Education President Christine Lamparello, business administrator and […]

Garden tours at Mountsier in Nutley on Sept. 11

Garden tours at Mountsier in Nutley on Sept. 11

NUTLEY, NJ — The Garden Conservancy will host garden tours at Mountsier Garden, in Nutley, on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mountsier is a garden for all seasons that has been created and fine-tuned for more than two decades, and now encompasses 2 acres. The owners, Silas Mountsier and Graeme Hardie, […]

US Marine posthumously awarded Congressional Gold Medal in Orange

US Marine posthumously awarded Congressional Gold Medal in Orange

ORANGE, NJ — Members of the National Montford Point Marine Association assembled in Orange on Aug. 1 for a solemn ceremony awarding a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to Newark native Matthew Edward Harris. Harris served in the segregated ranks of the U.S. Marine Corps from 1943 to 1946 in Okinawa in the Pacific Theater.  The […]

South Orange and Maplewood reignite conversation about merging fire departments

South Orange and Maplewood reignite conversation about merging fire departments

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Talk of a merged fire department that serves both Maplewood and South Orange resurfaced at the South Orange Board of Trustees’ first in-person meeting since the beginning of the pandemic. At the July 26 meeting, the trustees were joined by the members of the Maplewood Township Committee, and, while […]

Murphy signs sweeping housing eviction prevention and utility assistance bill

Murphy signs sweeping housing eviction prevention and utility assistance bill

UNION CITY, NJ — On Aug. 4, Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation that will provide comprehensive housing eviction prevention and utility assistance for renters who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation, S-3691, appropriates an additional $500 million for the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program and $250 million for utility assistance, both […]

East Orange library receives community grant from JLOSH

East Orange library receives community grant from JLOSH

EAST ORANGE, NJ — East Orange Public Library has received the Shelly Oliver Hollis Community Grant  from the Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. The grant was presented to EOPL by JLOSH President Larisa Holderied and member Shelly Oliver Hollis, for whom the grant is named, in support […]

Mental Health Association of NJ offers online support, skills groups

SPRINGFIELD, NJ — The Mental Health Association in New Jersey is providing a new virtual wellness center that offers no-cost groups and workshops statewide to individuals interested in day-to-day wellness, support for substance use disorder and strategies for improving mental health.  Called United by Wellness, the center can be accessed online or by call-in. More […]

Maplewood health officer named August 2021 Sustainability Hero

Maplewood health officer named August 2021 Sustainability Hero

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Sustainable Jersey has named Candice Davenport, the Maplewood Township health officer, its August 2021 Sustainability Hero. “Ms. Davenport has been instrumental in providing a healthy and sustainable balance for our community,” Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee said. “Her thoughtful leadership has kept us ahead of the curve in terms of community health and […]

East Orange Division of Senior Services resumes in-person programming

East Orange Division of Senior Services resumes in-person programming

EAST ORANGE, NJ — After more than a year and a half apart due to the pandemic, East Orange’s seniors are back together, thanks to programming from the city. As COVID-19 restrictions change, the East Orange Division of Senior Services, under the Department of Health and Human Services, recently officially resumed in-person programming. Now, the […]